Skip to main content
Log in

Marriage Matters: A Description and Initial Examination of a Church-Based Marital Education Program

  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Marital education is helpful for treating marital distress. Religious organizations have been identified as a particularly useful outlet for the dissemination of marital education. We describe and present initial evidence for the effectiveness of Marriage Matters, a church-based marital education program. Participants (N = 731) reported a high level of satisfaction with the program and also reported feeling better about their marriage at the end of the program compared to the beginning of the program.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amato, P. R. (2000). The consequences of divorce for adults and children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 1269–1287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doss, B. D., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2009). The effect of transition to parenthood on relationship quality: an 8-year prospective study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 601–619.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giblin, P., Sprenkle, D. H., & Sheehan, R. (1985). Enrichment outcome research: a meta-analysis of premarital, marital, and family interventions. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 11, 257–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M. (1994). Why marriages succeed or fail. New York: Fireside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halford, K. W., Markman, H. J., Stanley, S., & Kline, G. H. (2003). Best practice in couple relationship education. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29, 385–406.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. J., Fawcett, E. B., Carroll, J. S., & Gilliland, T. T. (2006). The marriage moments program for couples transitioning to parenthood: divergent conclusions from formative and outcome evaluation data. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 561–570.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hook, J. N., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2009). Christian couple counseling by professional, pastoral, and lay counselors from a Protestant perspective: a nationwide survey. American Journal of Family Therapy, 37, 169–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Newton, T. L. (2001). Marriage and health: his and hers. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 472–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, J. H. (2004). Innovations in marriage education: introduction and challenges. Family Relations, 53, 421–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markman, H. J., Whitton, S. W., Kline, G. H., Stanley, S. M., Thompson, H., St. Peters, M., et al. (2004). Use of an empirically based marriage education program by religious organizations: Results of a dissemination trial. Family Relations, 53, 504–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, S., Wackman, D. B., & Nunnally, E. W. (1983). Couple communication: equipping couples to be their own best problem solvers. The Counseling Psychologist, 11, 73–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, F. R., & Morris, D. G. (1985). The recognition and expression of feelings. South Bend: TACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Notarius, C., & Markman, H. J. (1993). We can work it out: Making sense of marital conflict. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (1996). Measurement error in psychological research: lessons from 26 research scenarios. Psychological Methods, 1, 199–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, D. K., Castellani, A. M., & Whisman, M. A. (2006). Current status and future directions in couple therapy. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 317–344.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, S. J., Markman, H. J., St. Peters, M., & Leber, B. D. (1995). Strengthening marriages and preventing divorce: New directions in prevention research. Family Relations, 44, 392–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, S. J., Markman, H. J., Prado, L. M., Olmos-Gallo, P. A., Tonelli, L., St. Peters, M., et al. (2001). Community-based premarital prevention: clergy and lay leaders on the front lines. Family Relations, 50, 67–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Census Bureau. (2002). Number, timing, and duration of marriages and divorces: 1996. Washington: United States Census Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whisman, M. A., Uebelacker, L. A., & Weinstock, L. M. (2004). Psychopathology and marital satisfaction: the importance of evaluating both partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 830–838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua N. Hook.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hook, J.N., Worthington, E.L., Hook, J.P. et al. Marriage Matters: A Description and Initial Examination of a Church-Based Marital Education Program. Pastoral Psychol 60, 869–875 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-011-0398-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-011-0398-8

Keywords

Navigation